The teeth of the young pigs are clipped as soon as possible after birth. Piglets are born with eight teeth. Failure to clip the teeth results in teat injury and infection. Teeth clipping also prevents the young pigs injuring themselves while fighting or playing. Why is it so important? Piglets bite the sow (mother) in their fight to get hold of one of her teats and suckle. The pain caused by this disturbs the sow causing her to get up and prevent her young from feeding. The cuts to the sow's udder also allow germs to infect the udder. In their fight to grasp the teat and suckle, piglets will also bite and injure one another. The simple practice of clipping the teeth as soon as possible after birth prevents these problems. When should it be done? The piglet's teeth should be cut six hours after birth. This is meant to allow piglets to take colostrum. Clipping teeth earlier may result in infection. The sow and her young should be separated for as short a time as possible.
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